Wire bending machine



1942- J. c. LINCOLN EI'ALV 2,305,266

INVENTORS JOHN E- u/vcauv BY WILL/HM H-NEE'LY svewzl 5- sauna/$00227 8 1WHORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1942. 4 J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 6 WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec.24-, 1940 Q 11 Sheeqs-Sheet s 1942- J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 1'1 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Jam:c-uucouv WILL/HM H-NEL) V INVENTOR6 BY \svewp E-Baunsmsmmr W. ATTORNEY.

Dec. 15, 1942.

J. c. LINCOLN ETl'AL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 Dec. 15,1942.

J. C. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940llSheets-Sheet e l I I 1 INVENTORS JOHN C- Ll/VL'DLN WILL/HM H- NE'EL-YSVE'NZI 5'- BLUNENSfi/ZFT' Dec. 15, 19 J. c. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS JOHN L"LIINC'ULN WILL/HM H-NC'ELY SVEND B'Bl-UHENSHHPT 2P W M.

Dec. 15, 1942. QALINCOLN EIAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940ll Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS JOHN L Lmvcu/v WILL/HM H'NEELY ave/v17 5-.8L m-wsmnr Dec. 15, 1942- J. c. LINCOLN ETAL WIRE BENDING MACHINE llSheets-Sheet 9 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 Dec. 1 5, 1942.

J. c. LINCOLN ETAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O 'F'IE '19INVENTORS JOHN C'- L/NL'DLN BY WILLIHM H- NEEL) SVENH 5- BLUMENSFRDT J.c. LINCOLN EI'IAL 2,305,266

WIRE BENDING MACHINE Dec. 15, 1942.

11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 24, 1940 INVE R5 28 JOHN L' um'm svmp 5mums/vamp? Patented Dec. 15, 1942 WIRE BENDING MACHINE John 0. Lincoln,Scottsdale, Arlz, William H.

Neely,

Cleveland, and Svend G. Blumcnsaadt,

Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to The Universal Wire Spring 00.,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 24, 1940,Serial No. 371,54

64 Claims. This invention relates to wire bending or corrugatingmachines producing either continuously or intermittently zigzag bent orsinuously corrugated wire such as used -for making springs for seat andback structures, cushions and the like, and more particularly to wirebending or corrugating machines in which a plurality of rotatedcooperating cam arms or bell cranks alternately engage and bend a wirein opposite directions as the wire passes between the cam arms, as forexample shown and described in Moyers U. S. Patent No. 1,727,894, datedSeptember 10, 1929. It is well known that wire bending machines of thecharacter described have limited speed of operation due to the fact thatthe wire bending levers of the bell cranks in these machines rotateabout spaced centers in opposite directions and are moved alternatelybetween each other and beyond a medial line between their centers ofrotation by means of stationary cams, the limited space between thecenters of rotation prohibiting use of other suitable operating meansfor the bell cranks. In addition, wire bending machines of the characterreferred to are not adjustable and therefore cannot properly corrugatewires of different thickness and difierent phys ical properties, to wit:control the length of the corrugated wire and the number of itscorrugations per foot, except by exchange of the bell cranks and theirstationary operating means, a procedure which, of course, is veryundesirable.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a wirebending machine of the type referred to above in which the bell cranksare rotated in parallel planes about a single axis and in which the bellcranks are actuated by rotary cam means to effect shifting of the leversof the bell cranks toward and through a plane between said parallelplanes, all for the purpose of speeding up corrugating operations andpermitting of better control of bending wires which vary in physicalproperties such as thickness, elasticity, hardness, etc.

Such a general object of the invention according to the invention isattained by rotatably mounting spaced rows of co-operating bell crankson a rotatably mounted, driven cylinder or master wheel and actuatingthese bell cranks in timed relation with respect to each other by meansof oppositely driven cam means which are rotatably mounted opposite theside faces of the master wheel and driven in timed relation with respectto said wheel.

Further important objects of this invention are to provide a wirebending machine adapted to 55 (Cl. Mil-1 1)v produce corrugated orsinously shaped wire accurately, rapidly and inexpensively, the ma-'chine being ofas simple a design and low cost as possible and practicaland eiilcient for all purposes intended.

Additional objects and novel features of construction, combinations andrelations of parts by which the objects in view have been attained willappear and are set forth in detail in the course of the followingspecification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specificationillustrate certain practical embodiments of the invention, but it willbe apparent as the specification proceeds that the structure maybemodified and changed in various ways without departure from the truespirit and broad scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wire bending machine according to theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation partly in section of the wire bendingmachine shown in Fig. 1. v

Fig. 3 is a transversal sectional view through the wire bending machineshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the wire guiding device arranged atthe intake side of the wire bending machine- Fig. '7 is a side view ofthe wire guiding device shown in Fig. 6.

5 Fig. 8 is a front view of said wire guiding device.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the wire guiding and hold down device arrangedat the outlet side of the wire bending machine.

Fig. 10 is a side view ofthe device. shown in Figl 9. 1

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the bell cranks supporting themaster wheel of the wire bending machine showing in elevation the rotary45 bell crank actuating cam means and in dotted lines the guiding camsfor the bell cranks and the stationary cams for the stripping pins.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing successive steps inthe bending opera- 5o tion of a wire; thus Fig. 12 shows the position ofthe master wheel and one of its bell cranks shortly after thebegmninl'1k g of the bending of the wire by such bell cra Fig. 13 showsthe position of the master wheel the shafts II, II supports a large spurgear l1, II respectively, which meshes with a small spur gear. II, IIrespectively, on shafts II, ll of two driving motors 24, 2|.

These motors ro- 5 tate in opposite directionswith respect to each andthe said bell crank after completion of its bending operation on thewire in which position-the bell crank has been rotated back from theoverthrow position to the locking position and is ready to engage theguiding means guiding the bell crank during stripping operations.

Fig. 15 shows an intermittently corrugated wire structure in which thecorrugations are arranged in the, central portion of the wire.

Fig. 16 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of starting and stoppingblocks or plugs which in cooperation with the bell cranks effect bendingof a wire to the wire structure disclosed in Fig. 15. V

Fig. 17 shows an intermittently corrugated wire structure somewhatsimilar to the structure shown in Fig. 15 with the exception that theend portions of the wire structure are axially aligned with each otherand the corrugated portion of the wire structure.

Fig. 18 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of starting and stoppingbell cranks cooperating with the other bell cranks in bending a wire tothe wire structure disclosed in Fig. 17.

Figs. 19 through 22 are side views of the pairwise cooperating bellcranks; thus Fig. 19 is a side view of a left-handed upper bell crank;

Fig. 20 is a side view of a right-handed upper bell crank;

Fig. 21 is a side view of a left-handed lower bell crank;

Fig. 22 is a side view of a right-handed lower bell crank.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the cam member actuating the strippingpins.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the cam member preventing rotation ofthe bell cranks during stripping operations.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary side view partly in section of the operatingmechanism effecting change of the relative rotary positions between themaster wheel and the bell crank operating rotary cams.

Fig. 26 is a sectional view on line 26--26 of Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view of a somewhat modified cam structure forpositive actuation of the stripping pins, the section being taken online 21-21 of Fig. 28; and

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on line 28-28 of Fig. 2'7.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 3 it will be seen that the wirebending machine embodies a frame or housing 2 made of two substantiallyU-shaped castings 3, 3', the flanges 4 of which are secured to 'eachother by means of bolts 8 in flanges 6 laterally extended from flanges4. Housing 2mounts in roller bearings 1 a main drive shaft 8 which isextended through the opposite walls II of housing 2 and carries rigidlysecured to its central portion a master wheel 5. Shaft 8 also mounts onits outwardly extended two end portions Ill, l0 gear hubs II, IIrespectively, which adjustably support bevel gear rings l2, l2. Thesebevel gear rings mesh with bevel pinions l4, l4 integrally formed onparallel, vertically rotatable shafts l5, l5, which shafts are mountedin bearings It, It.

other and eflect rotation of shafts II, II in opposite directions androtation of main drive shaft 8, as will best be understood frominspection of Fig. 2 of the drawi s. Shafts l8, l5 mount cams 2|, 2|which operating wire bending bell cranks 22, 22' and 22, 22' pivotallysecured to master wheel 8. These bell'cranks are arranged inco-operating relationship with respect to each other and form sets ofleft-handed and right-handed structures. Each of these bell cranksembodies a pivot shaft 24 rotatably supporting the bell crank on masterwheel 8, a laterally extended wire bending lever 25 with a rounded endportion 24, a laterally extended cam supporting lever 21 with a cammember 28, and an upwardly extended'guiding finger 2! adapted to preventrotary movements of the bell crank in a predetermined area. The bellcranks 22, 22' differentiate from the bell cranks 23, 23 only by thelocation of their cams 2|, thus, bell cranks 22, 22' include cam 28extended upwardly from their cam supporting levers 21, and bell cranks23. 23' include cams 28' extended downwardly from their cam supportinglevers 21, an arrangement which permits of congested mounting of thebell cranks on master wheel 8 for effecting the desired corrugations ofa wire.

Bell cranks 22, 22' and 22, 22' are mounted on master wheel 9 inparallel rows of radial bores 30, 30' and are extended with their shafts24 through peripheral flanges 2|, 3| on said master wheel so that theshafts 24 are freely rotatable in bores Ill, 30'. The ends 33 of shafts24 are threaded and carry nut members 22 screwed upon said ends toprevent axial shifting of the shafts in said bores. In addition, bellcranks 22, 22 and 23, 23' are yleldingly held in alignment by coilsprings, to effect proper co-operation of the cams 2|, 2! with cams 2|,2|, which springs automatically return the bell cranks to their startingpositions. The bores of the rows of bores 34, 20' are offset withrespect to each other, that is, the bores in one row are arrangedopposite the spaces between adjacent bores of the other rows to permitoffree swinging movement of levers 2! toward and through a plane midwaybetween the two rows of bores.

Cams 2 I, 2| each include 180 offset cam levers 25, I8 and I5, 26"respectively, which levers rotate in different planes with respecttoeach other, and cam levers 35, ii on cam 2| are 90 offset with respectto cam levers 25', 26' on cam 2| to effect alternate, timed inwardswinging movement of bell cranks 22, 22' when lever arms 35, 35 engagecams 24 on bell cranks 22, 22' and lever arms 38, I8 engage cams 28 onbell cranks 22, 23'. The motors 20, 2| rotate the master wheel 2 and theshafts l5; I! in such a manner that lever arms 25, 38 and 35', 36 oncams 2|, 2| move in opposite direction and in a direction opposite tothe direction of rotation of the upper portion of master wheel's. Thisarrangement accelerates wire bending operations without excessive rotaryspeed of shafts II, i5 and permits of proper control of wire bendingoperations by adjusting the relative rotary positions of the bell crankswith respect to the cams 2|, 2| and their Each of lever arms II,- andI5, I". For such purpose ctuate pairs of cogear rings l2, l2 arerotatably n gunted on gear hubs II, N by arranging inthegcircumferential fla g'e .3'l of each gear hub curved slots 38 for'38 which are extended through said slots and threadedly engaged withthe respective gear ring. Shifting of the gear rings on their respectivegear hubs is effected by oppositely arranged axially aligned scriwmembers 48 which engage a threaded bore 48' in slotted portion 4| offlange 3], extend with their ends into the slot 42 in said portion 4|and engage the opposite sides of a block 43, pivotally secured to therespective gear ring. When screw members are rotated in oppositedirections gear ring |2 will be shifted with respect to its gear hub andwill change the relative position of cams2l, 2| on shafts |5, |5' withrespect to the bell cranks.

For continuous or intermittent wire corrugating'operations a wire 44 isfed through housing 2 to the top of master wheel 8 and while advancingover the top of said master wheel is corrugated by the bell cranks 22,22' and 23, 23'. During and after these corrugating operations the wireis stripped from the end portions 25 of wire bending lever 25 by meansof stripper pins 45 radially, slidably mounted in rows of bores 48 inthe peripheral flanges 3|, 3| on master wheel 9. Bores 48, which arearranged in parallel rows between the bores of the rows of bores 38,38', mount a stripper pin for each of the bell cranks. These stripperpins extend through the bores 48 and have their inner ends 45 seatedupon and yieldingly forced toward peripheral, inclined shoulders 58, 58'on circumferential enlargements 5| of master wheel 8. To that effecteach stripper pin carries near its inner end a washer 52 held in placeby a pin 53 and is forced against the respective shoulder 58, 58' by acoil spring 54 which seats on said washer and engages the inner surfaceof the respective flange 3|, 3|. The stripper which are thusautomatically retracted to neutral position, are actuated by stationarycam means 55 on housing 2, secured thereto by means of bolts 55. Cammeans 55 actuate the stripper pins when these pins are in apredetermined area during rotation of master. wheel 8 and effectstripping of thewire from levers 25 in a horizontal plane.

When entering housing 2, wire 44 is fed through a wire feed guide andhold-down device 51 mounted on housing 2 and attached thereto.

by means of bolts 58'. This device embodies a substantiallyrectangularly shaped base plate 58 provided with upwardly extendedspaced, axially aligned and perforated ear portions 58 and an ex-..tension 58, the lower surface of which is rounded and recessed nearits end portion to form a stationary bell crank shifting spreader cam 5|for automatically returning the bell cranks to their stationarypositions should springs 34 fail to reset these bell cranks aftercorrugating and stripping operations. The base plate 58 mounts a wireguide 52 consisting of a bottom plate 53 and a top plate 54, whichlatter is recessed at its bottom face so as to form between plates 53and 54 a short channel 55 with parallel side walls and a longer channel55 with flaring side walls. Channels 55 and 55 are axially aligned andform holder 51 is secured in its adjusted position by a screw member 13threadedly engaged with base plate 54. Screw member 13 has its upper endextended through a bore in plate 58 and holds the pivot holder inadjusted position by nut members I4, 15 threaded on member 13 andcontacting the opposite faces of plate 68. The front end 15 of pivot armholder 51 is perforated at 11 and mounts a pin I8 which rotatablysupports a pivot arm 18. This arm carries at its front end a finger 88adapted to engage the top of wire 44 during wire bending operations andat its rear portion an extension 8| which co-operates with means 82yieldingly holding pivot arm 18 in neutral position. These means consistof two axially aligned spring pressed pins 82'. slidably mounted inperforated, oppositely arranged, aligned extensions 83, 83 on pivot armholder 51. Pins 82' are forced into engagement with extension 8| bymeans of compression springs 84 which are held under proper tension byscrew members 85 threadedly engaged with extensions 83, 83. Preferably,the wire feed and hold-down device 51 has secured to its rear end ashort wire guiding pipe section 85 which is aligned with channel 55 andclamped to base plate 58 by means of a bracket 81 attached to base plate58 by bolts 88.

When the wire has been corrugated and stripped from its bending levers25 by stripper pins 45, same is guided through a wire guiding device 88embodying a supporting base member 88, a bottom plate 8|, a top plate 82separated from said bottom plate by spaced separator plates 83, andlaterally spaced, pivotally mounted guide arms 84, 84'. In this devicebottom plate 8|, top plate 82 and separator plates 83 form a channel 85through which the finished wire is discharged from housing 2. Thepivotally mounted arms 84, 84', which extend with their a guide orpassage for wire 44 permitting limited free ends into the wirecorrugating zone of the machine, engage with said ends the loops of thecorrugated wire and yieldingly force the coils downwardly. To thateffect the arms 84, 84' are bridged by a cross bar 81 contacting theupper faces of said arms, which cross bar is yieldingly forced againstsaid arms by means of spring 88 on bolt 88' threadedly engaged withguide block I88. Top plate 82 and bottom plate 8| also have their frontedges IM and I82 decreased in thickness to facilitate guiding of thewire 44 into channel 85, and arms 84, 84' are formed with noselikerounded extensions I83 at their free ends to facilitate guiding of thesearms over the loops of the corrugated wire and over the wire bendinglevers 25 during wire bending operations.

The wire bending or wire corrugating machine is adapted to effectcontinuous or intermittent corrugation of a wire. In the first case thebell cranks 22, 22 and 23, 23 are circumferentially mounted on masterwheel 8 and so spaced from each other that the spring loaded bell cranksafter completion of bending and stripping operations readily return totheir starting positions. Should, however, the springs 34 fail toautomatically reset the bell cranks, then spreader cam 5| on base plate58 effects resetting and thus insures proper operation of the machineeven under adverse conditions. Corrugating operations take place whenmaster wheel 8 and shafts l5, l5 are rotated and cam levers 35, 38 and35', 35' on cams 2|, 2| alternately engage cams 28, 28' of therespective bell cranks 22, 22' and 23, 23'. During such corrugatlngoperations each bell crank for each rotation of master wheel 8 is rot-=-during stripping action, and finally returned to its starting position.In the second case the num- 7 her of bell cranks is less than the numberof bores 3|! in master wheel 9, and the bell cranks are arranged in oneor more predetermined areas of the peripheral surface of the masterwheel. The number of bell cranks equals the number of loops in thefinished corrugated wire and, in addition, means are provided (a) tohold the wire so as to permitstarting of corrugating operations at anydesired point of the wire, and

(b) to bend and shape the last loop of the corrugations oi the wire.

The shape of the means for holding or gripping a wire prior tocorrugating operations largely depends upon the shape of the first andlast loops of the corrugations. For a wire member I04 having the shapeshown in Fig. 15 of the drawings, the holding or gripping means consistsof a starting block I05 adjustably attached to the periphery of masterwheel 9 by means of a bolt I06. The starting block co-operates with thefirst bell crank III! in tightly gripping the wire and permits of properbending of the wire by the following bell cranks. The end loop I08 ofwire member I04 is formed against a button I09 abutting the wire whenbell crank IIII forms end loop I08 of wire member I04. Wire members withhalf sized end loops (see member III shown in Fig. 17 of the drawings)cannot be formed with a stationary starting block and button asdisclosed in Fig. 16, but necessitate means for holding and bending thewire 50 that the straight end portions of the finished wire member aresubstantially axially aligned. Such means consists of specificallyconstructed bell cranks H2, H3 and H4 at the starting side and similarlyconstructed bell cranks H5, H5 and II! at the finish side, The bellcranks at the starting side include bell cranks II2 with a short leverarm I I8, bell crank II3 with a substantially triangularly shaped headII! and a shorter lever arm I20, and bell crank II4 with a flattened endportion I 2I at its bending lever 25, portion I H being flattenedopposite head H9 for co-operation therewith. The bell cranks H5, H6 andII! at the finish side are substantially equal in construction to bellcranks H2, H3 and H4 with the exception that the lever arm I22 on bellcrank H5 is slightly shorter than the lever arm I I8 on bell crank II2to prevent excessive overthrow at the end loop of wire member III, anarrangement which. of course, may be adjusted to suit any desired finalshapes of a corrugated wire.

The types of corrugated wire springs shown in Figs. 15 and 17 are usedfor the construction of springs for automobile and furniture seatstructures in which corrugations are arranged in deflnite areas of awire. Such corrugations of a wire in definite areas is effected in thedescribed wire bending machine by feeding a wire section a.predetermined distance into the machine, gripping the wire section asdescribed above, corrugating the wire section by the desired number ofbell cranks, stripping the corrugated wire from the bending arms of thebell cranks, and, finally. discharging the iormed wire from the machine.To facilitate these operations, a wire section I23 is fed into the wirebending machine either automatically or manually until the wire sectionengages a wire length gaging device I24 embodying a pivotally supportednarrow stop plate I25 attached to the end of a rod I26. This rod islongitudinally adjustably mounted in a holder I 21 secured to housing 2by means of bolts I28 and provided with a clamping device I29 for rod I26. In wire bending operations a wire section I23 is fed into the wirebending machine so as to contact pivotally supported stop plate I25 andis stopped until the wire during gripping action by bell crank III! hasbeen shifted laterally out of contact with said stop plate. In thisposition wire section I 23 can freely advance during the followingbending operations and readily be dis charged from the machine aftercompletion of such operations.

Proper shape of the loops of a corrugated wire can only be attained bybending the wire in excess of the desired shape of its loops. Thenecessary excess bending over and above the desired shape of the loopsof a wire depends upon physical properties of the wire, hardness,elasticity, etc., and cannot be controlled in present day wire bendingmachines. The above described machine, however, permits full control ofthe excess bending of a wire by the provision of means permittingadjustment of the overthrow of wire bendinglevers 25. This is effectedby a change in the relative positions of the wire bending cam members22, 22' and 23, 23' with respect to their operating cams 2|, 2| withlever arms 35, 35 and 35', 35', all as previously described.

When the bell cranks have eflected their bending operation, these cranksare locked against rotation to avoid deformation of the wire loopsduring stripping operations by guidingthe bell cranks in channeled cammembers I30 secured to housing 2 and positioned so that their channels I3i engage the upwardly extended fingers 29 on the bell cranks andprevent rotary movements of said cranks while engaging said channels.

Preferably, housing 2 includes an oil pan I32 located below master wheel9 so that the lower portionthereof extends into the oil and properlylubricates the movable parts on said wheel. the cams 2|. 2| and wire 24contacting therewith. Before discharge from the machine the corrugatedwire is fed through an oil wiping device I33 embodying co-operatingpairs of brushes I34.

The corrugated wire produced by the wire bending machine is slightlycurved, dueto the fact that corrugating or bending operations andstripping operations take place during rotation of master wheel 9 sothat its peripheral surface forms the base upon which the wire rests.The radius of the curve of the corrugated wire, however, depends uponthe position of wire guiding device 89 with respect to master wheel 8and shifting of this device in one or the other direction with respectto master wheel 9 increases or decreases the curvature of the corrugatedwire and permits proper control of the curvature even to the extent ofreversing same. To efi'ect shifting of wire guiding device 89, thisdevice is longitud nally adjustably mounted on housing 2 by providing inbase member of said device elongated slots I35 and securing said deviceto hous ing 2 by bolts I36 extended through slots I35.

Stripping pins 45. as stated above, are yieldingly held in neutralposition by springs 54 until actuated by cam means 55. This constructionis not fully satisfactory as in case of breakage of a spring 54 therespective stripping pin might interfere with the action of its bellcranks and the other bell cranks. This danger is overcome by theprovision of means positively retracting each stripping pin to neutralposition should its spring break or for any other reason fail to retractthe aaoaaoo "I each include a groove ill near their inner ends Ill,which groove co-operates with a ring or guide member ill having areduced circular front edge ill.v This edge is extended into said grooveand eflects positive retraction of the mmper pins should their springs84 tail to do so. The ring or guide member which is attached to housing2 includes a cam member I, which member eiiects stripping action.Removal of strip-- per pins I31 from master wheel I is made possible byproviding ring or guide member ill with a removable sector 3 oppositeopening I in housing 2. This sector is secured to member I by plates I45and dimensioned for removal through opening I so as to give free accessto the bell cranks and the stripper pins of the master wheel.

Having thus described our-invention, what we claim is: p

1. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality of bell cranks rotatedin parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to saidplanes, and rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation onearm oi! each bell crank to effect swinging movement or its other armtoward and through a plane arranged between said first mentionedparallel planes in parallel relation with respect thereto.

2. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality of bell cranks rotatedin parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to saidplanes, and rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation onearm of each bell crank in such a manner as to effect a swinging movementof the other arm of each bell crank toward and through a plane betweensaid first mentioned spaced planes, said swinging movement of said otherarm of said bell crank being in a direction substantially opposite tothe direction of rotation of said bell crank about said common axis.

3. A wire bending machine embodying a plurality oi bell cranks rotatedin parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to saidplanes, and rotatable cam means arranged to rotate on an axis arrangedsubstantially parallel to said parallel planes, said rotatable cam meansengaging in timed relation and in an area adjacent to its plane ofrotation one arm of each bell crank and effecting swinging movement ofits other arm toward and through a plane arranged between said parallelplanes.

4. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks radially mounted on said drum in parallel rows, rotatablecam means for actuating said bell cranks, said cam means being arrangedat opposite sides of said drum and mounted to rotate on axessubstantially parallel to planes through said parallel rows of bellcranks, means coupling said drum with said rotatable cam means for timedrotation about their axes with respect to each other, and means in saidcoupling means for changing the timed relation between said drum andsaid rotatable cam means. a

5. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks rotatably mounted on said drum in two parallel rows with thebell cranks of said two rows oflset with respect to each other,rotatable cam means for actuating the bell cranks of said rowsalternately and in timed relation with respect to each other, said cammeans being arranged at opposite sides of said drum in a planeintersecting the axis of opposite sides of said drum actuating said bellsaid drum, and means for rotating said camme'ansandsaiddrumsothatsaidcammeans are shifted in a direction oppositeto the direction 01 travel oi said bell cranks when said cam meansactuate said bell cranks. i v

6. A wire'bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell .cranks rotatably mounted on said drum in two parallel rows withthe bell cranks of said two rows offset with respect to each other,rotatable cams arranged at cranks in timed relation with respect to eachother when passing through a predetermined area, means for jointlydriving said drum and said rotatable cams, and means in saiddrivingmeans for adjusting the relative rotary position of said drum and saidcams with respect to each other.

I. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oi!bell cranks mounted in two rows on the peripheral surface of said drum,

a said bell cranks including wire bending arms and cam arms, rotatablecam means at opposite sides of said drum for rotating said bell cranksin opp site directions by engaging their cam arms to effect swinging oftheir wire bending arms alternately toward and through a plane betweensaid rows or hell cranks and related at a right angle to the axis ofsaid drum, and means oooperating with said bell cranks for holding samein predetermined positions when said drum and bell cranks rotate throughpredetermined areas.

8. A wire bending machine embo a rotatable drum, a plurality ofleft-handed and right-handed bell cranks mounted in rows on theperipheral surface of said drum, each of said bell cranks including wirebending arms, cam arms and a guiding finger, rotatable cam means atopposite sides of said drum for rotating said bell cranks inoppositedirections by engaging their cam arms to effect swinging of their wirebending arms alternately toward and through a plane between said rowsoi! bell cranks and related at a right angle to the axis of said drum.and means co-operating with the guiding fingers of said bell cranks forholding same when said drum and bell cranks rotate through predeterminedareas.

9. A wire bending machine embodying a pinrality of bell cranks rotatedin parallel planes about a common axis related at right angles to saidplanes, rotatable cam means driven to engage in timed relation one armof each bell crank to efiect swinging movement of its other arm towardand through a plane arranged between said first mentioned parallelplanes in parallel relation with respect thereto, and means for slidablyholding said bell cranks against axial rotation when passing through apredetermined area.

10. A wire bending machine embodying 'a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable'cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm 01' each bell crank to eflfect swingingmovement of its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary meansincluding a pivot arm adapted to hold down such wire during bendingoperations.

.11. Awire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofhell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm or each bell crank to efiect swinging movementof its other arm for bending a wire,.and stationary means including avertically pivoted and adjustably tiltably mounted arm adapted to engageand hold down such wire during bending operations.

6 teams" on said drum in rows arranged circumterentially with respectthereto, rotatable cam means on opposite sides of said drum driven toengage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to eflect swingingmovement or its otherarm in a direction substantially opposite to thedirection or rotation of said drum and bending of a wire during rotarymovement of said drum, and stationary means including a verticallymounted pivot arm for holding down such wire during bending operations.

14. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oibell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means mounted adjacentto the sides of said drum, means for jointly driving said drum and saidrotatable cam means, said cam means engaging one arm 01' each bell crankto effect swinging movement or its other arm in a directionsubstantially opposite to the direction of rotation of said dnmi andbending of a substantially straight wire during rotary movement of saiddrum, and means for stripping the wire after bending from said other armof said bell crank. I

15. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank and efl'ect a swingingmovement of its other arm for bending a wire, and a stripping pin foreach of said bell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum forstripping the wire after bending from said other arm of said bell crank.

16. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality oibell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eiIect swinging movementof its other arm and therewith bending of a wire, a stripping pin foreach of said bell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum adaptedto strip the bentwire from said other arm, and means co-operating withsaid bell cranks for holding same in predetermined positions while saidstripping pins strip the bent wire.

17. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank to effect swinging movementof its other arm for bending a wire, individual stripping pins i'or'eachof said bell cranks mounted in said drum, and means to actuate saidstripping pins when said bell cranks are moving with said drum through apredetermined area during rotation 01' saiddrum.

18. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means coupled with saiddrum to successively engage in timed relation one arm of each bell crankior eiiecting swinging movement oi. its other arm and bending of a wire,a stripping pin for each of said bell" cranks radially slidably mountedin said drum and yieldingly held in non-stripping position byspringmeans, and stationary cam means for shifting said stripping pins tostripping positions when said' bell cranks are moved with said drumthrough a predetermined area.

19. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks radially mounted on said drum, rotatable .cam means mountedadjacent to the sides of said drum, means for Jointlydriving said drumand cam means to successively eiiect engagement of said cam means withthe one arm of each bell crank and a swinging wire bendingmovement ofits other arm, means for stripping a wire. bent by said other arms, andmeans for guiding and holding down the bent portions of such Wire duringbending and stripping operations.

20. A wire' bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks radially mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means mountedadjacent to the sides of said drum, means for jointly driving said drumand cam means to successively efiect engagement of the one arm of eachbell crank and swinging wire bending movement of its other arm, meansfor stripping a wire bent by said other arms, and

means for guiding the bent portions of such wire, said last meansincluding spring loaded pivot arms engaging and holding down the bentportions of said wire in the bending and stripping area of said wirebending machine.

21. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, sets ofleft-handed and righthanded bell cranks on said drum arranged in twoparallel rows, one row including all the left-handed bell cranks and theother row including all the right-handed bell cranks, rotary cam meansarranged at opposite sides of said drum and driven in oppositedirections with respect to each other to effect during rotation of saiddrum in a predetermined area'successive inward swinging movements ofsaid bell cranks. 22. In a wire bending machine the combination of arotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operating bell cranks andstripping pins mounted thereon, with rotatable cam means arranged toactuate the bell cranks on said drum in a predetermined area, andstationary cam means positioned'to actuate said stripping pins inanother predetermined area.

23. In a wire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum havingparallel rows of co-operating bell cranks and stripping pins mountedthereon, with rotatable cam means arranged to actuate said bell cranksin a predeter mined area, stationary cam means positioned to actuatesaid stripping pins, and guiding means including pivotally supportedguide members to effect during bending and stripping operations guidingand holding down of a wire fed into said machine.

24. In awire bending machine the combination of a rotatable drum havingparallel rows of co-operating bell cranks and stripping pins mountedthereon, with rotatable cam means ar- 25. In a wire bending machine thecombination of a rotatable drum having parallel rows of co-operatingsets of left-handed and righthanded bell cranks and stripping pinsmounted thereon, with rotatable cam means arranged to actuate said bellcranks and effect wire bending operations, stationary cam meanspositioned to actuate said stripping pins, and driving means coupledwith said drum and said rotatable cam means to effect joint rotation ofsaid drum and rotatable cam means in timed relation.

" 26. A wire bending machine embodying a. rotatable drum having sets ofco-operating lefthanded and right-handed bell cranks mounted on saiddrum, rotatable cam ,rneans positioned to actuate said bell cranks whenin a predetermined area, rotary driving means jointly rotating said drumand said rotary cam means, and .means coupling said driving means withsaid rotary drum and said rotary cam means, said coupling means'including gearing having rotatably adjustably drum. rotary cam meansfor actuating said mounted gears for adjustment of the relative positionof said drum with respect to said rotary cam means.

27. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a shaft horizontallyrotatably mounted in said housing, a drum mounted on said-shaft, sets ofco-operating left-handed and right-handed bell cranks mounted on saiddrum for rotation therewith, vertically rotatable cam means positionedto actuate said bell cranks, driving means for rotating said drum andsaid rotary cam means, and gearing means adjustably coupling said drumand said rotatable cam means with each other to permit of changing theirtimed position with'respect to each other.

28. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a shaft horizontallyrotatably mounted in said housing, a drum mounted on said shaft forrotation therewith, sets of co-operating leitv handed and right-handedbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means arranged atopposite sides of said drum to'actuate said bell cranks, and meansadapted to rotate said drum and said rotary cam means simultaneously intimed relation with respect'to eachother, said last means includinggearing adjustably couplug said drum and cam means with each other' topermit of changing their timed position with respect to each other.

' 29. In awire bending machine a'rotatable drum.

co-operating sets of bell cranks mounted on said cranks, and drivingmeans coupled with said drum and said cam means for actuating same intimed relation, said sets of bell cranks including sets having bellcranks with operating cams arranged at one elevation and adjoining setshaving bell cranks with operating cams arranged atanother elevation, andsaid rotary cam means including two angularly offset lever .armsarranged in said two elevations to alternately actuate. two of said setsof bell cranks during each revolution of said rotary cam means. 30I'1Ina wire bending machine a rotatable drum; co-operating sets of bellcranks mounted on said drum, rotary cam means actuating said bellcranks, driving means, and gearing couplingsaid driving means with saiddrum and 'said cam means, said gearing including a gear embodying a gearhub, a ring gear rotatably mounted on said hub and means for rotatingsaid ring-gear on its hub and locking said-gear in adjusted positionwith respect thereto.

31. A' wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofwire bending bell cranks rotatably mounted on said drum, spring means oneach of said bell cranks for holding "same in an inactive position,rotatable cam means an inactive position, rotatable cam means foractuating said bell cranks when carried by said rotary drum through apredetermined area. means for locking each of said bell crank againstrotation when carried by said drum through another predetermined areaafter such a bell crank has been actuated upon and eflected wirebendbell v ing operations, and stationary cam means for positivelyshifting all of said bell cranks into their inactive positions.

33.. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mountedon said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engage intimed relation one arm of each bell crank to efiect swinging movement ofits other arm for bending a wire, and stationary means adapted to returnsaid bell cranks to their starting positions when bending operationshave been effected.

34. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality orhell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eifect swinging movementof its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary wire hold down andbell crank returning means for holding down such wire during .bendingoperations and returning said bell cranks to their starting positionswhen bending operations have been eflfected.

35. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially withrespect thereto, rotatable cam'means on opposite sides of said drumdriven to engage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to effectswinging movement of its other arm in a. direction substantiallyopposite to the rotation of said drum and bending of a wire duringrotary movement of said drum, and stationary cam means symmetricallyarranged with respect to said rows 0! bell cranks and positioned toreturn said bell cranks to their starting positions when the wirebending operations have been affected and while passing through apredetermined area during rov tation of said drum.

:hold down means extended between said rows of bell cranks and pivotallyshifted thereby during wire bending operations.

37. A wire bending machine embodying a reta'table drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially withrespect thereto, rotatable cammeans at opposite sides of said drumdriven to engage one arm of each bell crank in said rows to effectswinging movement of its other arm in a direction substantially oppositeto the direction of said drum and bending of a wire during rotarymovement of said drum, and vertically pivotally supported spring loadedwire hold down means extended between said rows of bell cranks andshifted to proper hold down positions by said bell cranks during wirebending operations.

38. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engageintimed relation one arm of each bell crank and effect swinging movementof its other arm for bending a wire, a stripping pin for each oi saidbell cranks radially slidably mounted in said drum'and stationary cammeans for positively shifting said stripping pins into strippingposition vwhen in a predetermined area and posiv tively holding suchpins in inoperative position in all other areas during each revolutionof said drum.

39. A wire bending machine as described in claim 38, wherein each ofsaid stripping pins in- 1 cludes a circular groove near its inner end,and wherein said stationary cam means consists of a ring having areduced circumferential edge portion extended into the grooves oi saidpins for shifting and holding same when carried around with said drum.

40. A wire bending machine as described in claim 38', wherein each ofsaid stripping pins includes a circular groove near its inner end,wherein said stationary cam means consists of a ring having a reducedcircumferential edge portion extended into the grooves of said pins forshifting andholding same when carried around with said drum, and whereinsaid ring is made of at least two sections removably attached to eachother to permit of ready disassembly and exchange of said stripping pinsfrom said drum.

41. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum, rotatable cam means driven to engagein timed relation one arm of each bell crank to eilect swinging movementof its other arm for bending a wire, and stationary guiding means for awire formed with an elongated passage having flaring side walls at itsinner end to permit of limited yielding shifting of said wire in saidchannel during wire bending operations.

42. A wire bending machine embodying a housing, a drum rotatably mountedin said housing, a plurality of bell cranks mounted on said drum,rotatable cam means mounted on said housing adjacent to the sides ofsaid drum, means for jointly driving said drum, and cam means tosuccessively eflect engagement of the one arm of each bell crank andswinging wire bending movement of its other arm, means for stripping awire bent by said other arms, and means shiftably mounted on saidhousing for guiding the bent portion of such wire.

43. A wire bending machine as described in claim 42, wherein said wireguiding means'inelude symmetrically arranged spring loaded pivot armsformed with nose portions at their free ends and extended into thestripping and bending area of said wire bending machine, said armsyieldingly holding down the bends of said wire without interfering withthe action of said bell cranks 44. A wire bending machine as describedin claim 18, wherein each of said bell cranks includes a laterallyextended cam lever adapted to co-operate with said rotatable cam means,a laterally extended wire bending lever adapted to bend the wire and anupwardly extended guiding finger adapted to engage the said holdingmeans locking such bell cranks against rotation during stripping action.

45. A wire bending machine em y ng a rotatable drum, a plurality of bellcranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially withrespect thereto, rotatable cam means on opposite sidesof said drumdriven to engage in each half revolution of said cam means one arm or abell crank to eflect swinging movement of its other arm toward the otherrow for bending a wire between said rows, and means on said bell cranksfor guiding the wire by one bell crank when bent by the said other arm01' the adjoining bell crank.

46. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum in rows arranged circumferentially withrespect thereto, rotatable cam means with two vertically spacedoperating'levers arranged at opposite sides of said drum, said cam meansbeing driven to engage in each half revolution of said cam means one armor a bell crank in each row of bell cranks to effect swinging movementof its other arm toward the other row for bending a wire between saidrows, and the said one arms of adjoining bell cranks in each row of bellcranks being arranged in diflerent elevations for co-operation with therespective levers of said cam means to actuate two adjoining bell cranksin each row by each revolution of said rotatable excessive swingingmovement of said other arm beyond the desired final shape of the bendsin the wire to eifect a, set'in the bent wire, a stripping pin for eachof said bell cranks mounted in said drum for stripping the bent wirefrom said other arm, and means co-operating with said bell cranks forslightly rotating same in an opposite direction and non-rotatablylocking same in the desired position while said stripping pins strip thebent wire from said other arms.

48.. A wire bending machine comprising a rotatable drum, co-operatingsets of left-and righthanded bell cranks mounted in spaced rows on saiddrum circumferentially thereof, rotary cam means for rotating said bellcranks successively to swing toward each other when rotating with saiddrum through a predetermined area, driving means coupled with said drumand cam means for rotating same in timed relation with respect to eachother, stripping means on said drum, means for actuating said strippingmeans when rotating with said drum through another predetermined area,means for holding said bell cranks in non-rotating position when saidstripping means are actuated, and means for returning said bell cranksto their starting positions prior to their rotation by said cam means.

49. In a wire bending machine two rows of cooperating wire bending bellcranks, means arranged substantially opposite to the first bell crank ofone of said rows of bell cranks co-operating with said first bell crankin gripping a wire and holding same during wire bending operations, andmeans arranged substantially opposite to the last bell crank of one ofsaid rows of bell cranks co-operating with said last bell crank inproperly shaping the last bend in a wire.

50. In. a wire bending machine a rotatable drum, a plurality of bellcranks mounted on a sector of said drum, rotatable cam means driven toengage said bell cranks in timed relation, and means mounted on saiddrum substantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks toeffect gripping and holding of a wire at any desired point when saidbell crank is actuated by said rotatable cam means.

51. In a wire bending machine a rotatable drum; a plurality of bellcranks mounted on a sector of said drum, rotatable cam means driven toengage said bell cranks in timed relation, means mounted on said drumsubstantially opposite to the first one of said bell cranks to effectgripping and holding of a wire at any deeiired point when said firstbell crank is actuated by said rotatable cam means, and means mounted onsaid drum substantially opposite to the last one of said bell cranks andco-operating therewith during bending operations to properly shape thelast bend in said wire.

52. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructedleftand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows,said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equallength to efiect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and bell crankswith wire bending arms of different length than the wire bending arms ofsaid first bell cranks.

53. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructedleitand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows,said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equallength to eflect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bellcranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bendingarms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged infront of said first bell cranks and dimensioned to prevent axial andlateral shifting of a wire during wire bending operations.

54. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructedleftand-right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows,said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equallength to effect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bell 1cranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bendingarms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged atopposite ends of said rows of bell cranks and dimensioned to preventaxial and lateral shifting of a wire during bending operations andeffect proper bending of the last loop of such a wire.

55. In a wire bending machine a plurality of symmetrically constructedleftand right-handed wire bending bell cranks arranged in parallel rows,said bell cranks including bell cranks with wire bending arms of equallength to effect symmetrical zigzag bending of a wire, and other bellcranks with wire bending arms shorter in length than the wire bendingarms of said first bell cranks, said other bell cranks being arranged atopposite ends of said rows of bell cranks, and shaped and dimensioned toprevent axial and lateral shifting of a wire positioned therebetween,and said other bell cranks bending such wire so that its end portionsextend in axial alignment with the bent portion of said wire.

56. In a wire bending machine a plurality of wire bending bell cranks,means arranged substantially opposite to the first one of said bellcranks co-operating therewith in grippng a wire and holding same duringinitial wire bending,

operations, and stop means arresting a wire when fed a predetermineddistance into said machine to efiect gripping and bending of said wireat a predetermined point.

57. In a wire bending machine a plurality of wire bending bell cranks,means arranged substantially opposite to the first one of said bellcranks co-operating therewith i n gripping a wire and holding sameduringinitial wire bending operations, and stop means including apivotally supported stop plate for arresting a wire fed a predetermineddistance into said machine, said first bell crank effecting lateraldisplacement of said wire during gripping operations to shift said wireout of contact with said stop plateand the pivotal support of said platepermitting free advancing of said wire during bending operations.

58. A wire bending machine embodying a rotatable drum, a plurality ofbell cranks mounted on said drum in parallel rows arrangedcircumferentially with respect thereto, rotatable cam means at oppositesides of said drum, means to drive said drum and cam means in timedrelation to effect alternate actuation of the bell cranks in said rowsfor bending a wire alternately in opposite directions.

59. In a-wire forming machine, the combination of a rotatable wheel, aradially outer portion of a segment of the circular area defined by itsrotation comprising a forming station, a plurality of wire engaging andforming means movably supported on said wheel and carried thereby insuccession past said forming station, and means 'for moving said wireengaging and forming means, as they arrive in succession at said formingstation, alternately from opposite directions into the wire occupyingspace of said formin station.

60. In a wire forming machine, thecombination of a plurality of wireengaging and forming elements, means for moving said elements insuccession alternately from opposite directions into and out ofdeforming engagement with the wire operated upon to form oppositelydirected loops therein, and means adjacent said wire engaging andforming elements and movable relatively thereto along a linesubstantially normal to the plane of said'loops as formed to strip thelatter from said forming elements.

61. In a wire forming machine, the combinaplurality of wire engaging andforming elements, rotatable means for moving said elements in successionalternately from opposite directions into and out of deformingengagement with the wire operated upon to form oppositely directed loopstherein, and means for maintaining said succession of elements inengagement with the formed wire for a time suiiicient such that at leasttwo loops are at all times thus supported and that portion of the wirejust formed accordingly securely anchored to facilitate deformation inthe stated manner of the succeeding portion thereof.

62. In a wire forming machine, the combination of a plurality of axiallyrotatable wire engag-

